by J J Immel
The article online drew my attention, but the writer was way too vague in his criticism. I think I'm intelligent but I couldn't really 'get' his point other than the course setup for the Open makes for a boring watch. Isn't this tournament supposed to be a real test of golf skills? If the playing pros cannot get themselves 'up' for the challenge, they should retire. Is the writer suggesting that Tiger isn't challenged by the Open setup? If he is driven to stretch his incredible talents and misses the mark, isn't that what it's all about? If an unknown golfer has an extraordinary string of luck (and yes, luck DOES play a part in the game of golf, even for Tiger!) and shoots lights out and wins, what's the beef? I recall when Faldo won his first Open at Muirfield by shooting an even par on the final round, the only round played that day that was not over par, and he was crucified in the American press for playing so conservatedly. I was there, and it took incredible skill and guts to shoot a par round. He overtook Paul Azinger who had a six stroke lead and won the tournament! Great golf froma great player! It's not the course that's determining the scores or the conservative play, it's the players!

by Rick Riley
You are absolutely right about this years Masters tournament. I have never seen so many people making so little noise. BORING!!! The tour has enough stuffed shirts already and taking the crowd out of the mix makes watching about as exciting as the home shopping club. I have only read the newspaper accounts of this years Open setup. The tournament starts today so I will be able watch and make my own assessment, but from what I've read so far it's obvious the only things lacking are possibly a swinging gate and a clowns nose. Good news for everyone though. It could be much worse, believe me. At our local men's tournament we invite Michelle Wie. That brings watching paint dry up to a whole new level.

by Jim Harwood
What's with the soprano bull ? Never watched it -some of us are not TV hounds !!! As far as the open - MAKE IT TOUGH !!! Let's see them work for the millions for a change !!

by P. Yung
I don't think so. Oakmont has never been and never will be a course catering to be a harder course for just the US Open. In fact, if anything, it caters to the US Open by being EASIER as greens have been SLOWED down for tourneys. I have had the honor of playing Oakmont numerous times over the decades, including this one, and it is not ridiculous. Difficult, yes. True to the spirit of the game yes. If you want birdies and easy, flat, boring layouts, go to your typical, American, target layout. If you want real golf, go to places like Oakmont, WF, or Shinnecock in the US or across the pond. Just quit the whining and hit the damn ball.

by P. Henry
This is one of two tournaments I watch a year and, being a core golfer this has always been a tournament I would rather watch than play myself.
I do believe that the equipment makes a big difference in length and accuracy but, not the way they set up this course. I think it is going to be as painful to watch as the movie Jack ass.

by George White
They have gone to far. Is it not apparent that the winners are not among the top golfers in the world? If you want to make it difficult then slow the greens down, dramaticaly. Have them actually have to hit a putt like we do on our courses. Then we would be looking at conditions that we play on, ergo a real US Open.

by Roger
As an 11 handicap golfer I have no delusions of grandeur. However, I would like to see a game where comparisons and the measure of your competency is done on a level playing field. High School basketball and NBA games are played on the same court with the basket at 10 feet. The USGA expended a lot of energy on the trampoline effect of driver heads and should have gone even further to take the game out of the hands of the mad scientists.
I also want to see a standard in golf balls that allows me to compare my driving distance with Tiger's.
I play regularly on a course with a 120 slope rating and would be thrilled to see Tiger and Phil go head to head under terms similiar to what I encounter on a regular basis.

by Jim Blackadder
Chris Baldwin is one of those boors who tries (unsuccessfully) to put his opinion as to why an American should always win the US Open, and gets his comeuppence when an Aussie parrs the last 4 holes to step in front of a brain explosion Phil who didnt deserve to win the big one last year.
Get over it!!!
Adam Scott will most likely steal your thunder again this year, and then you wont be able to complain about a 'no name' winning.
It must just kill Baldwin to look at the first page of the leader board each week on the PGA Tour, and see at most, 2 or 3 USA players, with the rest being Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup players.
Get used to it, the USA isnt the centre of the world anymore

by R C Riley
Let me get this right. Your talking about the same Adam Scott that caved in the last two weeks on average courses. What's it like living in la la land?

by Larry Windsor
For the uninformed, Chris Baldwin is "on" the delusion that he knows anything about golf. He sure as hell doesn't know how to play the game. Believe me I know, because I was subjected to the agony of watching him last year. Par that real golfers try to reach for Baldwin is the number of strokes it takes him to get to the green if he doesn't pick-up and go to the next hole. I cannot understand how someone who would be LUCKY to shoot 150 if he ever posted a score can offer a valid opinion about competitive golf at its highest level. Golf is beyond difficult for Chris to begin with, so why should he have a clue on what the USGA is trying to do. All that said, the U.S. Open is what it is and the best players in the world know what they are facing. They will all play the same course and they will all be up to the challenge and give it their best shot! Who wouldn't want to be U.S. Open Champion? As someone else pointed out there are very few "nobody" names on the US Open trophy with all due respect to Lou Graham. And by the way Chris, you couldn't be competitive in the girls 9-10 publinks qualifier. So don't get so excited about hanging your new found hat of "fire-for-the-pin" credibility on the talented women who also play the game. Maybe you could be good at video games or something and write about the unfair conditions of varying internet speeds as it effects putting on the net. And, NO you didn't get my attention so much that I read everything you write depite your despicable lack of knowledge about the game. May any one of the great world-ranked players claim victory with an exciting birdie putt on the 72nd hole and declare Oakmont the finest golf course ever to be played for a major championship. And, Chris, go back to your video game.